Hair-ctrrling



June 18, 1929.

R. BISHINGER HAIR CURLING APPLIANCE Filed March 51, 1926 INVENTOR Robe/v 5/5/10? yer I TTO NE Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES ROBERT BISHINGER, 0F ALLISON PARK, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAIR-CURLING APPLIANCE.

Application filed March 31, 1926. Serial No. 98,639.

My invention relates to hair-curling appliances and it has particular relation to permauent-wave machines of the electrically heated type.

An object of my invention to provide a pcrmanent-wavc machine for producing waves of uniform initial curvature at the base of the hair whereby adjacent waves conform to each other.

A second object of my invention is to provide a pcrmanent-Wave machine that is capable of producin waves of uniform appearance that closely resemble natural curls.

A further object of my invention is to provide a permanent-Wave machine in which the rolled hair may be firmly secured adja cent to the head during the operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which the tension of the hair may be adjusted as desired to insure successful results.

A further object of my invention is to provide a permanent-wave machine embody ing an electric heating unit of relatively small size that may be readily and securely placed in operable position.

A still ilurther object of my invention is to provide a permanent-Wave machine in which an increased quantity of hair may be treated by each unit and the number of units may be correspondingly reduced.

By reason of the construction of permanent-wave machines that have been used heretofore, it has been necessary to wind helically each curl or strand of hair, upon a relatively long rod. In this operation, the hair is twisted in the strand. An electric heating device is then caused to telescope the roll of hair thus formed and which projects outwardly from the head.

The quantity of hair in each roll is necessarily small and a relatively large number of units is required to simultaneously treat the hair of a person. The heating devices employed have been relatively long and inconvenient to handle. The waves produced have not been of uniform initial curvature at the base of the hair by reason of the lack of uniformity of winding upon the rods. Aiter treatment, the air has tended to form helical coils by reason of its being twisted in the process of winding.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a machine comprising a relatively small number of units, each of which is capable of treating a relatively large strand, or curl,

of hair. The several curls are formed by winding the hair iina relatively straight roll on a tube, the successive turns having in creased diameters, thus increasing the length of the corresponding waves nearest the head.

The individual hairs are not twisted in winding.

The roller and its supporting holder rest securely upon the head. The heating ele ment only partially surrounds the roll of hair and it has a yielding engagement with the roller holder or support, whereby it is read ily removable. The Operation is easily and quickly performed and the resulting waves are progressively shorter outwardly from the head. I

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the roll holder and the heating element in operative position, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a unit constructed in accordance with my invention with a roll of hair in position;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section of the unit of Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is a perspective view of the locking device for the holder;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the roller;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a key for the winder roller; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a wrapper for enclosing a roll of hair.

Fig.8 is a diagrammatic view of a complete installation embodying units of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the permanentwave machine embodying my invention com prises a number of units, each unit comprising a roll holder 1, a roller 2, a key 3 for the roller, a. wrapper 4 forthe roll or strand of hair, and a heating unit 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the roll holder 1 comprises two complementary membore 6 and 7 that are pivotally connected by an arm 8 and a pin 9. Each of the members 6 and 7 comprises an angular member 10, of bakelitc, or other insulating material, having a base portion 11 that is adapted to rest upon the head of the person whose hair is being treatedjand a portion 12 that is inclined thereto for supporting the roll comprising the roller and the hair wound thereon to be treated.

The base 11 is heat-insulatedby means of asbestos, felt, or other suitable material, indicated at 13. The member is lined with a layer of felt 14, or other suitable padding material, and with a sheet-metal member that is crimped to the edge of inclined portion 12 and which serves as a heat-distributing member during the operation of the unit. A roll of rubber 16 is inserted at the angle of each member 10 to provide a cushioned clamping engagement of the members 6 and 7 with the strand of hair.

The members 6 and 7 are held in operative position by a locking device 17, shown in Fig. 4, which comprises two spaced tapered arms 18 and 19. The arms'18 and 19 are adapted to extend along corresponding grooves 21 of the members 6 and 7 to rigidly clamp the latter in operative position. The locking device carries a spring pawl 22 for a purpose to be later described.

The roller 2, shown in Fig. 5, and which is preferably of wood, has a constricted'cem I t-ral portion upon which thehair is wound.

The ends of the roller are provided with suitable metallic ratchets 23 for coacting with the pawl 22, and a similar pawl 24 mounted on the arm 8 to lock the roller in adjusted angular position. One end of the roller 2 is provided with a socket 25.

The key 3, Fig. 6, having a portion 26 for engaging the'socket 25, may be employed for tightening the roll as desired to place the entire length ofthe hair under tension. 7 The wrapper 4, Fig. 7, comprises a roll,

or cylinder, 27, of fibrous material, a sheet 28 of felt or flannel, and a larger sheet 29, of tin-foil.

The heating unit 5 comprises an outer metallic casing 31, having closed ends, 32, and side portions 33 that extend downwardly beyond the ends to constitute spring clamps for engaging the portions 12 of the roll holder 1. A base member 34 is secured to the upper portion ofthe casing 31 and it supports terminals 35' of an electric heating element 36. The heating element 36 conforms to the semi-cylindrical surface 37 of an inner metallic casing 38, which encloses the heating element and the base member 34. The heating element 36 is suitably insulatedfrom the casing 38. The ends of the outer and the inner casings are spaced by blocks 39 of asbestos or other heat-insulating material. The blocks 39 serve as stops for the roller 2 to prevent the hair from direct contact with the heated surface 37.

ly disposed for the useof the operator. The V heating units may be connected with two or more in series, as desired.

7 In the operation ofthe hair-curling device embodying my invention, an amount of hair covering approximately the surface of one to three square inches on the scalp is gathered to constitute a curl to be treated by a unit. The wrapper 4, the sheet 28 of which has been chemically treated, is inserted in the roll holder 1 with the portion 27 beneath the clamping portions of the holder and the latter is then caused to clamp the strand of hair. The roll holder is then locked by the locking device 17.

The roll holder is then pushed toward the scalp as tightly as possible. The hair thus held is carefully combed and then treated with the usual chemical solution. The roller 2 is then applied to the outer ends of the hair and the latter is rolled tightly until a single turn of the roller is necessary to complete the roll. The sheet 28 and tin foil 29 of the wrapper 4 are then placed over the partially completed roll and the remaining'hairand the whole is rolled tight to complete the roll. The tin-foil wrapper 29 constitutes an air-tight covering for the roll to prevent the escape of the vapors. No loose hairs are'permitted by this arrangement.

The completed roll now restswithin the angular portions 12 of the roll holder 1 and the pawls 22 and 24 coac t with the ratchets- 23 to prevent the unwinding of the roll. If desired, the key 3 may be applied to the end of the roller 2 to further tighten the roll.

It is essential that the hair be under a de The heat thus applied causes the moist chemicals applied to the hair and to the covering 28 of the wrapper to be converted to steam and to produce'a condition in the hair that is known as a permanent wave. When the hair has been heated for the desired or predetermined period, the heating units are removed by pulling outwardly from the holders, the rollers are unlocked from the spring pawls and the hair is unwound.

By reason of the uniform manner in which the curls or waves are wound upon the rollers, the curvature of the hair adjacent to the head is uniform and the several waves conform to each other. Since the hair is wound without twisting, the waves do not assume the shape of a corkscrew, as is customary in connection with presentdevices, but have the pleasing appearance of natural curls.

My improved methods of curling hair is not injurious to the hair, since the only direct heat applied thereto is at the base, Where it is materially stronger. The outer portions of the hair are covered and are heated only indirectly. The wooden roller prevents the conduction of excessive heat to the interior of the roll and to the outer ends of the hair that are adjacent to the roller.

The provision of a roller or winder of wood or other heat-insulating material insures that there will be no over-heating or burning of the interior or end portions of the roll as has been found. to occur when metal or heat-conducting materials are employed for this purpose. This unsatisfactory result is practically certain to occur if the winder or any considerable portion or portions thereof exposed to direct heat is of heavy cross-section.

By reason of the larger quantity of hair that may be wound on the rollers of my invention, a smaller number of units is required than is at present necessary, the number ranging from fourteen to twenty. The smaller number of units enables the operator to perform the operation in a shorter time, by reason of the larger quantity of hair that may be prepared for treatment by each unit.

The adjustable locking means for the roller enables the correct tension to be applied to the hair and also avoids the use of strings, or clips, to fasten the hair to the rollers.

The simple snap-on arrangement of the heating elements contributes to the safety of the device, since any heating element may be removed substantially instantly by a slight pull in case of a defect in the apparatus or in case of emergency. In fact, it is possible for the person being treated to free herself from all of the heating elements simultaneously without injury to the hairor to the scalp.

The foregoing and other advantages will 'be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hair-treating device, the combination with means comprising a pair of hinged members for clamping a strand of hair, of a member for winding said strand of hair into a roll and for eo-acting with said clamping means to be locked in position.

2. In a hair-treating device, the combination with a holder comprising two pivotally connected members each having a base por tion and an outwardly extending portion,

of a winding member supported by said extending portions and locked in angular position.

3. In a hair-treating device, the combination with a winding member, of means for clamping the hairs wound upon said member an d for supporting said winding member in substantially parallel relation to the surface of the head.

l. In a hair-treating device, the combination with a winding member, of means for supporting said winding member in substantially parallel. relation to the surface of the head, and a heating unit partially surrounding said winding member and having a sliding engagement with said supporting means.

5. In a hair-treating device, the combination with a winding member, of means for supporting said winding member in substantially parallel relation to the surface of the head, and for locking said winding member in operative position, and a heating unit at least partially surrounding said winding member and detachable transversely of said winding member.

6. The con'iiiiination with a holder having a flaring portion, of a winding member for coacting with said flaring portion and a heating unit yieldably slidably connected to said holder for enclosing said winding member.

7. The combination with a member for winding a strand of hair in a roll, the axis of which is parallel to the surface of the head, of a supporting member for clam iing the hair adjacent to the head and for securing said winding member in operative position and means for heating said roll.

8. The combination with a member for winding a strand of hair in a roll, the axis of which is parallel to the surface of the head, means for adjusting the angular position of said winding member, and means for locking said winding member in adjusted position, means for su iiporting said winding member in operative position, and means for heating said roll.

9. The combination with a member for winding a strand of hair in a roll, the axis of which is parallel to the surface of the head, and means for adjusting the angular position of said winding member to vary the tension of the hair, of a supporting memher for said winding member, means for locking said winding member in adjusted position, and means for heating said roll.

10. In a hair-curling device, the combination with a holder comprising two clamping members, each of which comprises a base portion, and means for securing said members in clamping position, of a winding member for a strand of hair that coacts with said holder to be supported thereby and locked in operative position, and a heating unit having a curved portion and detachably mounted on said holder adjacent to said winding member.

11. In a hair-treating device, a heating unit comprising a member having a concave portion, a heating elementadjacent to, but insulated from, said concave portion and a casing member enclosing and secured to said member, said casing member having oppositely disposed spring clips for attachment to a support.

12. In a hair-treating device, the combination with a casing member having a longitudinal opening and a concave portion, the sides of said opening being provided with spring clips arranged for clamping engagement, of a heating element conforming to said concave portion.

13. I11 a hair-treating device, the combination with a holder oomprisingtwo clamping members each having a base portion and an inclined portion, of a roller adapted to be supported by said inclined portions, a pawl for engaging said roller to prevent angular movement thereof, and a heating unit movable transversely into and out of yielding engagement with said holder, said holder and. said heating unit enclosing said roll.

14. In a hair-treating device, the combination with a clamping device of insulating material having a padded base portion and an angular holding portion having a metal heat-distributing member, of av roll coacting with said holding portion, means for locking said roll against rotation and a heating element having a yielding engagement with said holder and disposedadjacent to said roll.

15. Ina hair-treating device, a heating unit comprising a casing having a curved concave surface, a heating element in said casing for heating said surface, and an outer casing for partially enclosing the firstnamed casing and having extending side portions to constitute yielding clamping members.

16. In a hair-curling device, a winding member having a central portion of reduced cross-section, said member being of material that is substantially a non-conductor of heat,

and heating means adjacent to said winding member.

17. In a hair-curling device, a winding member having end portions of large crosssection relative to its central portion, said member being of heat-insulating material, a 

